The Essentials
The teams: The Chiefs (16-2) are trying to become the ninth team to win back-to-back Super Bowls and the first since the Patriots in 2003 and 2004. The Buccaneers (14-5) are trying to become the seventh wild-card team to win the Super Bowl.
The host: Raymond James Stadium (natural grass) is hosting the Super Bowl for the third time. There will be about 25,000 fans inside the stadium on Sunday.
Line: Chiefs by 3.
All-time series: The Buccaneers lead 7-6. The Chiefs beat the Buccaneers 27-24 this season on Nov. 29 in Tampa.
Buccaneers' NFL ranks: Offense, seventh (tied for 28th rushing, second passing). Defense, sixth (first rushing, 21st passing).
Chiefs' NFL ranks: Offense, first (16th rushing, first passing). Defense, 14th (17th rushing, 13th passing).
Weather forecast: Scattered thunderstorms in morning, then sunshine and clear, partly cloudy skies at night. High of 73.
National anthem: Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan
Halftime show: The Weeknd
TV Coverage
• This marks the 21st Super Bowl broadcast for CBS, which is the most among all networks. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo team for their second Super Bowl. Nantz is handling the play-by-play for the sixth time.
• CBS will begin its coverage at 10:30 a.m. "The Super Bowl Today" comes on at 1 p.m., leading into pregame ceremonies at 5 p.m. and kickoff at 5:30 p.m.
• NFL Network will air an 8½-hour edition of "NFL GameDay Morning" starting at 8 a.m. ESPN's "Postseason NFL Countdown" will go on the air at 9 a.m. for four hours.
By the Numbers
10: Super Bowls for Tom Brady. He is the 24th player from the four major North American sports leagues to reach double digits in title round appearances.
133: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that's the second shortest span — in days — for a metro area to appear in three championships in the four major North American team sports leagues. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the 2020 Stanley Cup, and the Rays lost to the Dodgers in the 2020 World Series.
1: Drives (out of 17) ending in the first quarter that Brady has scored on in the Super Bowl. And that was just a field goal. So, yes, zero first-quarter TDs.
121: Brady's Super Bowl rating in the fourth quarter and overtime. He is 47-for-63 for 538 yards, four TDs and no interceptions.
313: Yards from scrimmage in the playoffs, an NFL best, for Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette. With a TD in the Super Bowl, Fournette would join Terrell Davis (1997 season) and Larry Fitzgerald (2008) as the only players to score in four playoff games in a single postseason.
Injury Report
• The Chiefs ruled out left tackle Eric Fisher because of a torn Achilles' tendon and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. because of knee and ankle injuries. Tampa Bay did not list anybody as out on the final injury report.
• Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown, who missed the NFC Championship Game with a knee injury, and tight end Cameron Brate (back) are questionable.
The only Chiefs player to be listed questionable was wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who has not played since a calf injury in Week 16 against Atlanta. But he almost played in the AFC title game.
• Chiefs wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and backup center Daniel Kilgore both landed on the COVID-19 list as close contacts of the team barber. Kilgore has since cleared the league's safety protocols.
Associated Press